So far it is unconfirmed, but allegedly there's a new doping case: Mauricio Soler (Barloworld), current holder of the polka-dot jersey and winner of Stage 9 in BrianÃ§on, is said to have tested positive for an unknown substance after Stage 14. There is a ASO press conference scheduled for 11am CEST (2am PDT). The original claim seemed to have come from the Belgian newspaper "Het Laatste Neuws". Eurosport.com, Eurosport.de (translated) and radsportnews.net (translated) have already picked up the story.

Just to restore everyone's confidence in what has been a magnificent performance for one so young in his first Tour...

CyclingNews.comThe 2007 Tour de France was ripe with a new rumour starting Friday afternoon and running late into the evening that there could be another rider announced positive for a doping control. The rider was rumoured to be stage nine winner and mountains classification leader Mauricio Soler of Barloworld, however, Tour Director Christian Prudhomme clarified that there was no reported case of doping.

"We spoke with the commissionaire of the UCI and they said there was no case," Prudhomme said in a press conference Saturday morning in Cognac.

One Belgian website had reported that the Colombian had already tested positive, and Prudhomme was concerned about the speculation that took place the day before, and reminded the gathered press to base its work on facts. "Please be careful. Pay attention to the real facts."